Brussels, 13 July 2026
A new Eurobarometer survey released today shows that Europeans are overwhelmingly concerned about all the risks children face on social media. Against the backdrop of increasing reliance on social media, citizens see the need for better protection and tougher action to tackle disinformation. At the same time, given the global challenges, Europeans call for more democratic participation, defence capabilities and clean energy transition.
Cyberbullying leads the list of perceived risks children face online
A large majority of Europeans want the EU to do more to protect children from the risks online. Europeans are overwhelmingly concerned about all the risks children face on social media. Cyberbullying and harassment top the list of concerns, worrying 71% of respondents, closely followed by fears of online grooming and sexual exploitation (70%), exposure to harmful content such as violence, self-harm or extremism (69%), and misuse of children’s personal data (69%). Significant majorities also point to the risk of children being recruited for illegal activities (64%) and exposed to addictive platform design (60%).
A large majority of Europeans want the EU to do more to protect children from the risks online. Nearly two in three Europeans (63%) want EU rules restricting children’s access to social media by age, whether through an outright ban below a certain threshold (36%) or delayed access (27%). 15% favour reinforcing law enforcement resources, while 13% prefer leaving oversight to parents and schools without further EU intervention.
Two thirds of Europeans (66%) use social media every day to get information on current affairs or politics. Against this backdrop, Europeans’ indicate as top priorities to tackle false or misleading information tougher sanctions for illegal online content (44%) and stronger rules for platforms (40%), followed by clear labelling of AI-generated or manipulated content (38%), a minimum age threshold for social media access (37%), and greater investment in media literacy and independent fact-checking (29%).
Free speech, fair elections and rule of law are seen as democracy’s core pillars
Europeans also feel attached to the key elements of democracy. Freedom of speech and expression (34%), free and fair elections (32%), and respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights (31%) top Europeans’ list of the most important elements of a democratic society, according to the new survey’s findings. Fighting corruption (28%), transparency and accountability of political leaders alongside an independent justice system (26%), and citizen participation in public debate and decision-making (22%) are also cited as key pillars. Beyond voting, Europeans see forms of more direct participation as an effective way to influence EU decision-making (46%), followed by participation in political movements, parties or unions (42%).
Trust in EU defence capacity on the rise
A strong majority of Europeans (68%) agree that the EU should strengthen its capacity to defend itself autonomously against potential external threats. 56% (+4 pp since January 2026) say, they trust the EU to strengthen security and defence and better protect its citizens.
Renewables and energy efficiency seen as key to easing energy price pressures
The survey also found that more than half of respondents (56%) believe that developing more renewable energy capacity can help the EU to transition away from fossil fuels, while two in five respondents point to energy efficiency measures. 32% also see nuclear energy as a potential solution.
Regarding concrete measures taken by citizens following the increase in energy prices, almost one in three respondents (31%) have reduced their overall electricity consumption, while more than one in four (27%) have started monitoring their energy consumption more closely or reduced their heating or cooling use (26%).The list of measures is completed by adjusting energy use to different times of day to benefit from lower prices (20%), investing in more energy-efficient appliances (16%), comparing or changing one’s energy supplier or contract (14%), and installing or considering installing renewable energy solutions (14%).
Background
The Flash Eurobarometer 584 on EU challenges and priorities (June 2026) was conducted online from the 19th to the 24th of June 2026. Overall, 25,904 EU citizens were interviewed across all 27 Member States.
For more information
Source – EU Commission
Statement by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with the Co-Chairs of the Special Panel on child safety online
Brussels, 13 July 2026
A few months ago, I commissioned the Special Panel on Child Safety Online. Today we are receiving the report.
Dear Doctor Melchior,
Dear Professor Fegert,
I want to thank you and all the members of the Special Panel, for your hard work in the recent months and your skilful steer. It is the evidence we have been waiting for, which you are delivering today. The Panel examined what I believe is one of the greatest challenges confronting today’s governments – how to protect our kids online, how we establish a new norm in the future online world.
The Special Panel’s work has examined the benefits, opportunities and harms of social media algorithms on children. I have been eagerly awaiting your recommendations, and I am looking forward to reading this report. We in Europe believe that parents bring up our kids, and not predatory algorithms. To that end, let me be very clear: social media is not a toy. While ultimately it is up to parents to decide when children get their first smartphones, what we already have is a consensus that there needs to be a start date for the age children can join social media. The status quo, a world where we continue to allow big tech unrestricted access to our children, will only consign another generation to more mental harm, addiction and misery. The data reveal the facts. Across Europe, young people now spend four to six hours per day on screens. Six hours every day – this adds up to twenty years of their life. At the same time, across Europe, almost 60% of young children have experienced emotional or psychosocial problems online. And day and night, parents too well see the consequences of this: loss of sleep, depression, anxiety, cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content. All this is happening while our children’s brains are still developing. We cannot expect children to succeed in a system that was never designed with their wellbeing in mind, when they are most vulnerable.
I want to raise three points. My first point – the platforms were the architects of these systems, now they must prove that their services do no harm. In Europe, whoever develops a product is responsible for its safety. Car manufacturers must make their vehicles safe. We do not expect children to design their own seatbelts. We do not expect parents to fit airbags at home. And the very same must be true for big tech. This is why we have the Digital Services Act so that providers remove harmful features – addictive algorithms, dark patterns, harmful content, or unwanted contacts. With our DSA, we have already taken strong action – against TikTok’s addictive design, and just last week against Meta. Because the rule in Europe is safety-by-design. The platforms have a duty of care to their users, especially to their most vulnerable users. So when a young person reports a problem, providers must respond quickly and effectively. Children’s rights must be taken seriously. And companies must be held accountable. So we will continue to uphold our legislation and enforce our rules and change the system where it fails our children.
Now to my second point, it is clear we need age-appropriate restrictions to platforms. This is not about whether children can access social media. It is about whether and when social media can access our children. The question is no longer if children face risks online, but what can we do to give children a safer start online. And here, our age verification app is one of the tools to get it done. It is easy to use, privacy preserving, and open source. This is about putting power back into the hands of parents.
And that brings me to my third point today. The more we learn, and the more we see the impact on our children, the stronger the argument becomes for a social media start date. Just as we do not give our children keys to the car before they have their licence or let them buy alcohol until they are legally allowed, we need to set the age at which they can legally access social media. This will not be foolproof. And change takes time. It will take time to embed the cultural change that is already taking shape in our society. Just as it took time to outlaw drink-driving, and using seatbelts in cars. Great change never happens overnight, but when it comes to our safety, it is always worth it. And when it comes to social media, the research shows that timing matters. For example, we know that toddlers should have no exposure to screens and digital platforms at all. So no screens under the age of three. Children should only be exposed to social media under supervision – of parents, caregivers or teachers – and time-limited. Childhood is a period of extraordinary and delicate brain development. During this stage, our children need time in the real world. Time to play, to build friendships face-to-face, to make mistakes. Time to shape their own identities, their own personalities, before an algorithm shapes them instead. I believe we need to give our children this time.
If we want to protect childhood, we need to start where the risks are greatest. We first need to consider the type of platforms that are harmful to our children. The evidence shows that this is mainly social media platforms, but also other providers with age-inappropriate and addictive features. So think of it as social media plus. And when we have this clearly defined category, I believe we need to consider phased and gradual access for different age ranges. Because childhood will not wait. And once it is gone, we cannot give it back.
This report comes during a unique window of opportunity. We have heard from parents, educators, experts, and young people themselves. We have heard the experience from partners like Australia, as well as our Member States. Now we need action at European level. We will carefully review this report and the recommendations. And present a proposal after the summer.
Thank you.
Read the Special Panel Report
Source – EU Commission
Child safety online: Internal Market Committee Chair and rapporteur react to new report
The report of an EU expert panel on child protection online highlights the critical challenges children face and provides recommendations to improve their protection and to better empower them online, as well suggestions for the age-appropriate use of social media and other digital services.
In a reaction to the final report, Anna Cavazzini (Greens/EFA, Germany), Chair of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection issued the following statement:
“The internet has partially become a dark place for young people. We need a safe internet and online space for all, starting with the stricter enforcement of existing rules. Safety-by-design and by default must become the norm.
“We also expect the upcoming Digital Fairness Act to introduce bans on the most harmful practices. Any type of age assurance system needs to respect privacy and the rights of young people, including access to information and free expression. This complex issue is the highest priority on the political agenda. We will soon take up and discuss the report in the Internal Market Committee.”
Christel Schaldemose (S&D, Denmark), rapporteur on the protection of minors online and chair of the Digital Services Act working group, said: “I welcome the fact that the Commission is finally stepping up. The expert panel has sent a clear signal that children need stronger protection online and that age limits can no longer be dismissed as unrealistic. That is an important breakthrough. For too long, we have treated children’s safety online as a question of better parenting or greater self-control. But no child should be expected to resist platforms deliberately designed to capture attention and maximise screentime. The responsibility must lie with the companies that design and profit from these systems.
“Several years ago, a common European age limit for social media was dismissed by many as unrealistic. Today, the Commission’s own experts recognise that stronger safeguards are needed. That is a major victory for everyone who has fought to put children’s wellbeing ahead of platform business models. However, I still believe the age should be 15, not 13. 13 is already the minimum age used by most major social media platforms today. And we should not need to make new laws for the platforms to enforce their own terms and conditions. The good news is that the panel itself recognises that member states may choose higher age thresholds.”
Background
On Monday 13 July the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and the co-chairs of the expert panel presented their report on children’s safety online, which recommends stricter measures to protect children from online harms.
The recommendations align with previous calls by the European Parliament to improve the enforcement of existing digital rules, increase platform accountability, introduce a minimum age to access social media in the EU, design safe and age-appropriate platforms and ban the most addictive online practices.
The Commission simultaneously published the results of the latest Eurobarometer survey, showing that Europeans are concerned about all the risks children face on social media and demand stronger action. According to the study 63% Europeans want EU rules restricting children’s access to social media by age, whether through an outright ban below a certain threshold (36%) or delayed access (27%).
Further information
Source – EU Parliament